Sitting on the edge of my window, with my head in my hand. Today father said was an important day. My servants dressed me in my softest garments that I barely wear. My brother Akhmad Seemed to lighten the halls with his cheerful nature. I couldn't help but think I should probably just run away for the day.
"Aza, should we meet your father and mother at the throne?" One servant asked.
I got up annoyed with these duties of a daughter of the pharaoh. Sometimes life seemed empty, and repetitive. Since I been of age (17) nothing has changed. My father planned to show me off to many other kings in the area for potential marriage, of course they would have to wait until I am 18, but the market was slim. Hopefully they will forget me and focus on Akhmad being the next king, and my younger sister Nehzii who brought much comfort to everyone around her as she glazed the palace with the Same essence and looks of our mother. Honestly she was a jewel. As I walked the halls, I witnessed my brother hovering over the table with eagerness in his eyes. My sister sat proper and gracefully. My mother sat near my father shy as if they haven't been together for years, and then there was me. I sat bored like.
"Aza, now that you're here, I have an announcement to make. For one, I have left your brother in charge of finding you a suitor." I sat up in my chair more.
"What? Father, you still are worried about me, when Akhmad hasn't even found a wife?"
"Akhmad has other things to focus on for now, his wife will come to him." My father said with an authoritative tone.
"Aza, your dear brother is hurt, I have seen you grow up, no one knows better than me." He said in a fake sadness.
He seemed all too happy to have some responsibility. At times like this I wish I was Nehzii.
"Well, its settled, Akhmad will work hard to find your the proper suitor, of course you will have a say in him as well." My father said something that made my ears perk.
He is also letting me have a say so in my choosing of a suitor? I almost seemed too good to be true. My father has never left me make decisions for myself. My mother used to say that all of my fathers' independence leaked into me when I was born, that caused my bold nature and rebellious nature. The conversation is getting boring.
"Don't let me down dear brother." I said sarcastically waving my hands dramatically.
"Aza…." My mother spoke. I sat up straight.
"Mother?" She closed her eyes with a smile.
"When did you grow on me my beautiful girl?" She softly placed a hand on my cheek.
I gave a warm smile.
"Aza, Nezhii, don't you have your lessons to get to?" My father stated with a more serious look in his eye.
"Of course father." I rose and left with Nezhii.
We left the dining hall and stepped out to the sun to cross the temple to the maiden quarters.
"Aza, isn't this wonderful? Soon you'll have your own family, and can leave these prison walls." Nezhii looked with happiness.
I don't know what bothered me more, the fact that she thought trading me off to another family for the sake of 'peace and power' or the fact that she thought behind these royal prison walls would not be another, just in a different scenery. I put my head down.
"No, I don't have any intention on being a cow used for herding." As we entered the temple, Nezhii fell quiet.
These halls were filled with flowers, water, and jewels. All things our ancestors thought baited kings and goddess with the accompaniments of a beautiful young lady. There are stories I use to hear about my mother, who my father waited 3 days to arrive to the temple. Eager and yearning all from the Cool hue of her eyes along with green ocean jewels he said he saw at the sunset across from his soon to be throne. It was said that day my mother's presence bought rain to the crops for 1 week, as a wedding gift from the gods.
"Ah, Our desert moon, and the desert's Nile!" I heard Hotep speak as she approached us.
"Even you call us such ridiculous names." I complained.
"Aza, it is time you lived in your truth." Hotep rambles.
Since we were kids people showered us with more than just praises and gifts. There was even names given to the children born under the crown of gold which is the head dress the pharaohs wear. Akhmad was given the title The Desert Sun, to represent the fire that once spread across the greenlands creating the sand. Ahmad was born with my father's deep fiery hair and eyes as gold as the sun. I was given the title The Desert Moon to represent the presence of magic, also known for a warning, a calm, silence before change. I bare the silver hair of my mother with the gold eyes of my father. Last was Nezhii The Desert's Nile, to be represented as the water that washed away chaos and reset the land, starting a new beginning. She was the exact replica of my mother, Those blue jeweled eyes, with silver hair. The elders adored her as they praised the resemblance of my mother in her, satisfied with the remembrance of their youthful days of when my mother first arrived given them a peace they first felt. It is said we would be the pillars of the past if it was to start again, Ahkmad to protect, I to silence, Nezhii to reset, fulfilling the idea of an impending cycle.
"Nezhii, you have blossomed into the most beautiful flower, the plants here disrespect your presence." Hotep said.
When we were younger Hotep watched over us maybe the most out of everyone that slinks these halls. I think her biggest head aches were me and Ahkmad, we always fought, always bumped heads, stayed in competition. Nezhii on the other hand, when she was born, Hotep almost forgot about the noise me and Ahkmad brought. I guess that forced us to follow the roles we were to play being apart of an important family.
I turned away watching the winds scoop the sand. What will become of my fate? Is it truly to play the role of beautiful fool dressed in jewels to save her family of betrayal that is destined to transpire once more? How should I ever learn to recognize a snake in the water? Am I even ready to live in this "truth" that Hotep speaks of.
"Aza, this waist of yours will surely cause a commotion, and with that sharp graceful look, you have become surely the example of the perfect woman." Hotep grabs my waist as if she was sizing me.
"Who's perfect?!" I said embarrassingly. "I'm just a child." I said with sad eyes.
"Not this coming season, It is time we prepare you for the attention you will receive and give." I widen my eyes.
My 18th birthday was coming up. Day by day behind the walls, I always forget.
Slowly as the days got hotter, and the nights got colder, This marked the beginning of the new season, The season we celebrated Ra for giving us life. Our people celebrate with a festival that keeps the light alive even through the night, until the sun rises once more the next morning. We call it The Sand Festival. From all corners of this desert we get visitors, traders, and even foreigners who leave their lands far from here to admire and praise our history. The villages were slowly being lined with decorations and colors that stopped me every day. I use to enjoy these festivals when I was young. Ahkmad and me use to sneak into father's and mother's parties and help ourselves to the aged grapes they spend so much money spending and time drinking. We never drunk too much. Eventually as we got older father invited Ahkmad properly to these parties where Ahkmad learned what the parties truly stood for and even meant. Ahkmad grew to be a pillar of Ra's grace and beauty. Ahkmad was a gentleman when he got older, even the maidens and servants could'nt look him in the eye. Not out of fear but shyness. Their burnt cheeks spoke for them before they even managed to release a bow of respect. Ahkmad never made them feel any less than what their titles already were, and he even stole the hearts of many other women who traveled here on affairs with their families. My father has so much hope for Ahkmad, and even has secretly started bringing those families here, with their alternative motive that Ahkmad would fall for one of them, watching his expression and body language to each family's daughter. My father was a calculated man who did believe in love and fairytale, but never lost sight or awareness to the surrounding factors. It was said that my father's lifetime never experienced a fall of his insanity because of how cautious and paranoid he was. Nezhii spent more time in the library during these times, she had no interest in the traffic all this season brought. Of course she showed her face after, which everyone couldn't wait to admire her youthful face. She was only 15 and still treated as a baby.
"Hold the sails!" I heard a scream and the builders outside the temple threw clouds of ribbons above my head to create a shelter.
I couldn't lie about this festival being entertaining. I actually quite enjoyed it. Now I don't know If I'll have that same reaction, given my father only cares for me to attend to show me off as a newly crafted gold statue. It feels as if the highest bidder will only stand a chance in these kingdom.
"The moon blesses us with her presence." I heard my brother's playful tone.
"What are you doing?" I asked him as I watched him hang glass ornaments upon the pillars.
"I'm getting into the spirit, shouldn't you?" He said with a vibrant smile.
"Ahkmad, are you satisfied with your life's story?" I asked.
"My story isn't finished being written yet." He turns to me with curiosity.
"Then why is mine?" I responded in frustration.
"Aza, you just don't understand the power you will have." He said.
"You-" I started but was interrupted.
As me and Ahkmad stood at the base of the temple we see our father strolling with something taboo around our halls. Men dressed from neck to toe. Wearing these bag like clothes clung to their legs, and more dramatic neck wear. They also bore a skin more ghostly than ours. Ahkmad and I looked at each other and turned away to escape from sight.
"Ahkmad! Son, please join us!" My father's voiced commanded the halls.
As I continued to walk, I felt Ahkmad's arm grab my shoulder.
"Father, Aza should attend as well, it would be also wise of her to learn the many wonders of the world, a good mother must be wise to raise wise sons."
Ahkmad's way with words had a habit of swaying my father.
"Is that so? Aza, join us." My father said in a serious tone.
Me and Ahkmad stood beside each other every step, we guarded each other this way. Though this may not be Ahkmad's first time seeing these foreigners, he didn't seem too pleasant to see them. If anything, it felt like a cloud of thunder was beside me. Ahkmad doesn't feel threatened often, something about these foreigners seems off.
As we entered a part I never have stepped foot in, I looked in amazement in my own home. This is where my father would have meetings. This must be important if they are coming straight here, not even a tour of the temples. These foreigners seemed to have minimal manners, there was no bow to my father, some of their eyes wondered so far they even laid on me as if they saw something that have ate and craved before. Honestly it made my stomach twist. I didn't quite listen to the conversation in its entirety, but I was interested in what got my brother to be as alert as Anubis.
"So this is the heir of the new kingdom?" One that seemed to be the leader stated addressing me and Ahkmad.
"Oh, yes this is the future Pharoah my son Ahkmad." My father spoke and with a smile.
Ahkmad stood almost as obedient as our soliders.
"I hear they call you the desert sun." One stated who looked too heavy to even sit on his legs.
"Well, when one is born chosen by the gods to lead our people to destiny, what can I say?" Ahkmad stated.
It was almost like he practiced that line.
" And, then you must be the desert moon." The leader's eyes slithered over to me.
"Ah, Y-" I started.
"Yes, she is, have you heard the stories?" Ahkmad placed a hand in front of me that stopped me from speaking.
Ahkmad has never demanded anything from me. Something is definitely off. For him to stop me from uttering any words.
"We have heard many. Correct me if I'm wrong, but we have heard her beauty will one day cause a stillness to chaos." The Leader stood and faced me.
I took a step back in caution.
"My lady?" He turns closer to me lifting his arm to me.
With all quick motion, Ahkmad quickly pulled me behind him, and my father drew a short sword in front of Ahkmad. The leader backed away, while the others flinched.
"Sefti, we were only extending a proper greeting given to the women of our lands." He spoke to my father.
"This is not your lands." Ahkmad spoke.